[mstraka]

If you want to never be stranded then replace your battery in year 4 but before year 5. Anything before year 4 is premature and anything over year 5 is luck.

Yes, thats been my rule of thumb based on experience.

 

[Shark]

For the last 30 years my general rule of thumb has always been to replace batteries after five years. To me trying to stretch it any further is just asking for trouble, especially on some modern cars where a marginal battery can start to cause issues with some sensitive electronic components.

 

[Guy88]

Just get a CTEK MXS 5.0 and not only will it extend the life, but it will let you know when your battery is starting to fail.


I generally keep my cars for 10-15 years, and only twice have I needed to replace a battery!

 

[Sincity]

I think AGM batteries last longer than normal car batteries. Don't know a thing about gel ones. Our 2009 C63 battery was swapped out at 8 yrs when it had around 24k miles (not driven much) out of precaution.

 

[Shark]

Just get a CTEK MXS 5.0 and not only will it extend the life, but it will let you know when your battery is starting to fail.


I generally keep my cars for 10-15 years, and only twice have I needed to replace a battery!

Wow I was under the impression that it was unlikely a battery would last 10 to 15 years even if never used.

With your CTEK how can you tell if the battery is failing? I have a CTEK MUS 4.3, and did not realize you could do that. Or perhaps the model that I have does not have that feature?

 

[Guy88]

With your CTEK how can you tell if the battery is failing? I have a CTEK MUS 4.3, and did not realize you could do that. Or perhaps the model that I have does not have that feature?

Charging Step 5: Tests if the battery can hold charge. Batteries that can not hold charge may need to be replaced.


Yours has the same step 5.

 

[mstraka]

Can someone summarize the type of battery we have in our Macans? How it differs from the standard over the counter auto parts type. Does Porsche make any claims for this kind of battery that exceeds the limits of a standard type battery – other than cost of replacement?

 

[Yadkin]

Battery life varies widely. I had an '04 Explorer that needed one every three years. I went through every circuit and couldn't find a drain. My last '12 Jeep still has its original after 7 years/ 174k miles. My wife's '11 328xi ate its battery at 4 years/ 50k miles.

I'm in tune to what cars are telling me so can wait until its time to change a battery out. If it cranks slow on the first cold day then it's time.

I don't have faith in Box store battery tests. I've had them done, passed, then had a no-crank the next day.

Even though it's overly simplified, I measure resting volts then use this chart to tell me state-of-charge. Isolate from the vehicle, bench charge at low amperage overnight, unplug the charger in the morning then measure the voltage around noon. If its less than 12.5 volts then it's probably time for a new one. Less then 12.0 and it's done, in my opinion.

 

[Big Smoke]

Yadkin x2 on poor Box store battery tests....

I put a $4oo dollar battery in my mom's BMW. Its a year old. car wont start. Maybe once, never a second.
My indy insists it is fine. He charges it, it tests fine. I take it away, no second start in the car.
Took it to the auto store, it fails on Carbon pile test. that is the test you need to really determine a bad battery.
Voltage is not the only factor.

 

[grim]

Can someone summarize the type of battery we have in our Macans? How it differs from the standard over the counter auto parts type. Does Porsche make any claims for this kind of battery that exceeds the limits of a standard type battery – other than cost of replacement?

AFAIK with the 991.1 and subsequent models (e.g., 981, 95B) with auto start/stop, Porsche moved away from the batteries you see everyday to AGM. The lead acid batteries cannot handle the constant starting and stopping. Since 2012.5, the cars have had much more sophisticated energy management than the past, hence the need for registering the exact battery in PIWIS. Prior to 2012, at least the sports cars ate batteries with the constant electronics drain. Hot = bad. Cold = bad. Many people have them for extra cars and they treated them like "other cars" and the batteries died. I don't know about the Macan but read your warranty. Usually its says you have to drive at least 6,000 miles/year. For a SUV, that's common but not common for many sports car. AGM does not like heat. Notice the battery isn't in the engine compartment? Its not for the sports cars either. Probably doesn't like hot sun either, but they do seem to last longer than the older kind. Put the voltage meter in your display (read the manual). AGM charges at 14.7 volts, not 14.4, hence the need for trickle chargers, like the newer CTEKs, with snowflake mode which is for cold weather or AGM batteries (14.7 volts).

Odyssey has some good info on AGM in a technical document http://www.odysseybattery.com/documents/US-ODY-TM-002_1214.pdf. Read about the parasitic draw. Also read about the snowflake mode, these batteries charge at 14.7 to get full capacity. CTEKs have two different places that tell you if the battery is died. Check their manuals but its like the second and 6th phases. You'll know, the charging stops.

A more definitive resource on AGM tech is Battery University. https://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/absorbent_glass_mat_agm They have everything about all kinds of batteries there.

I do think an AGM battery, properly maintained on a smart charger, can last longer than 3 or 4 years. Thats old think like change your oil every 3,000 miles. Time moves forward, not backwards. You do not need to change your oil until 10,000 miles and the AGM batteries might last longer than the older batteries if you take car of them. The buying public gets trained into their head they HAVE to do something. You HAVE to get your teeth cleaned every 6 months. You HAVE to change your oil every 3,000 miles. You HAVE to get a new battery every 3 years. No, you don't. Technology gets better all the time. YMMV.

 

[oqjnLu@>@W]

one definition of a 'bad battery' is one that won't hold a charge.

 

[jonzilla23]

I got my macan in 5/2014, so far battery seems fine so at least it should last 4.5 years haha knock on wood

 

[NC TRACKRAT]

grim puts out good info. here. As a testimony to his words, I had an ODYSSEY PCM680 in my track car and kept it on a smart charger when not in use. It lasted for well over 12 years but noticed cranking power was down so I replaced it with a new one and have kept the old one for back-up. Left unconnected with no draw, ODYSSEY states that the charge will last for up to 2 years!

 

[iconoclast]

Some claim the AGM batteries last 2x as long as lead acid ones.
https://www.pepboys.com/auto-care/maintenance/advantages-of-agm


BTW, grim, get your teeth cleaned!

 

[santastico]

Need new battery??

So my Macan will be out of warranty in 3 days. It will turn 4 years old and has 32k miles on it. It is cold here in MN and yesterday the AS compressor started to make some weird noises. I had that issue before and it took a while for it to fail and need to be replaced. I took the dealer to check and as expected the compressor is behaving as it should be so there is nothing to be done there. On the hand, during the time they were checking the car they got a faulty reading on voltage and apparently the battery is at 58% of its life. My SA recommended to replace it sooner than later and it quoted me $725 to replace it and get it coded. It seems very high for a battery but I am new to Porsche so not sure if there is something special there. Any thoughts? Tks!!!!

 

[wspollack]

I have no experience in this matter (our S is 16 months old), but I was surprised reading this post by @Nifty in another thread, posted earlier today: https://www.macanforum.com/forum/user-reviews/169285-macans-reliability-2.html#post2506047

In it, there's this line: "Battery Replacement: $824 to $862"

If that's the case in general for Macans, then your dealership's price doesn't sound as outrageous as it might first appear.

I imagine other folks who've actually had batteries replaced will provide you with a definitive answer shortly ...

 

[Sgparnes]

I think Macan (Porsches) use a special type of battery, but that seems very hi price. In the newer cars the first sign of a bad battery is when the electronics go screwy... widows, locks etc. Maybe it is a gel battery? Die Hard AGM battery $199 on Amazon.

 

[jzwu]

Dealer quoting double the actual cost is normal.

 

[Silverbullet]

Grim had some great information ! These are special batteries (AGM, with part# and serial #)......and when it comes to the Macan, power supply and electronics this is no place to try to save money IMO. You want the car to start and you don't want any error messages. Unfortunately this is about the cost of battery replacement and programing! $700 by Porsche is actually a great price. Many times they throw in a PCM program software update and a free loaner! PCM update is over $300! A good price on a Porsche battery is about $400 to $500.......with the battery disposal charges, possible broken clips (sub-woofer removal) and improper software DL would u really want to try to save $300 by taking it somewhere else. Hopefully you have a good SA and a responsible service department. I take my car in and when my SA says its ready, I drive away like it was before. A battery maintainer is very important with these cars which should get you the most out of your battery. Kind of a pain in the neck but that's Porsche ownership

 

[jeffbtx]

Can someone summarize the type of battery we have in our Macans? How it differs from the standard over the counter auto parts type. Does Porsche make any claims for this kind of battery that exceeds the limits of a standard type battery – other than cost of replacement?

AFAIK, it's just a straight on AGM battery from VARTA - AGM being the only difference from other auto batteries. AGM works better because of the extra battery load created by stop/start feature. Nothing from Porsche other than warranty book requirement that you drive at least 6,000 miles a year to keep battery under warranty.